It's been five months since the GameSpot offices closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means I've been sitting a lot more than usual, whether I'm working, gaming, reading, or engaging in pretty much any other activity inside my tiny apartment. All that sitting has led to some major back pain and stiffness, and when I finally have time for gaming at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is sit on my couch for a few more hours.

　　That's why I was intrigued to learn about the Moon Pod, an "anti-gravity" beanbag that claims to work wonders for "stress, anxiety, and all-day deep relaxation." I was also told the Moon Pod is popular with console gamers, providing a comfortable low-to-ground option that lets you sit closer to the TV. As someone who primarily games on PS4 or my docked Switch, I was immediately interested, especially with UI text screens seemingly getting smaller and harder to read from afar these days.

　　The Moon Pod brand offers a range of different products, with its flagship product being the Moon Pod itself. The beanbag is filled with high-density beads that are meant to "mimic the sensations of Flotation Therapy," i.e. give you a feeling of weightlessness. It comes with a cover to compress the beanbag and give it its pod-like shape, and the cover is made of a soft, stretchy fabric to accommodate any movement. In addition to reducing stress levels, the Moon Pod claims to relieve back and neck pain by providing ergonomic support and adaptive flexibility. If that all sounds too good to be true, there's a major catch: The Moon Pod alone sells for $300, and if you're interested in any of its accessories, you'll pay even more.

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　　I was given the opportunity to test out some of Moon Pod's products over the past week: the Moon Pod itself and an accessory called the Crescent, a backrest that heightens the Moon Pod's ergonomics.

　　

The setup

As mentioned previously, the Moon Pod and its accessories all come with a washable fabric cover to contain the beanbag itself. Squeezing the Moon Pod into said cover was quite a feat and felt like trying to pull on a pair of jeans that are way too small for you. It took about 15 minutes for me to set up the Moon Pod and the Crescent by myself--having someone to assist you would certainly make the process easier.

　　At 4 sq. feet, the Moon Pod takes up a decent amount of space in a small apartment. (Photo credit: Jenae Sitzes/GameSpot)

The size

The Moon Pod weighs in at 12 pounds and measures around 4 feet long and 1.5 feet wide with no one sitting in it. While not that heavy, it is a bit awkward to carry around due to its size, and you probably won't want to move it around much once you've found a place for it. If space is at a premium in your home, be sure to consider whether you have somewhere to put it that's easily accessible yet out of the way when you're not using it. In my tiny living room that already has a sectional couch in it, the Moon Pod takes up a decent amount of space, which I'm willing to deal with due to how often I play games on my TV.

　　

The ergonomics

I'll be honest: The first time I sat in the Moon Pod, I couldn't move for about 20 minutes due to how comfortable it felt. I truly did feel weightless, with every curve of my back and neck supported. The dense filling is firm enough that you're supported entirely off the ground, but just flexible enough to adjust to any position you want.

　　What I like most about the Moon Pod is that it's conducive to pretty much any sitting activity. You can sit upright at a nearly 90-degree angle, ideal for looking straight ahead at your TV, or you can lean back more for reading or working on a laptop. You can also lay entirely back to take a nap. Any way you adjust, you can feel the beanbag shifting to support your new position, and it's a new level of comfort I haven't experienced with a traditional chair.

　　The Moon Pod, the Crescent, and a footrest known as the Lunar Lift. All of this would cost you several hundred dollars, but boy is it comfortable. (Photo credit: Moon Pod)

　　Having the Crescent backrest pillow, which works in conjunction with the Moon Pod to provide support for your head, neck, and shoulders, greatly increases this beanbag's ergonomics. The Moon Pod on its own feels fantastic, but your head and neck may start to get tired after a few hours of gaming. The Crescent cradles your head and supports your shoulders so well that I still felt comfortable after day-long gaming sessions.

　　

The price

At $300, the Moon Pod is ridiculously expensive, and so is everything else in the Moon Pod range of products. The Crescent back pillow costs $129 on its own, and a larger, two-person option, the Super Moon Pod, sells for a whopping $500.

　　Though not a huge savings, we have an exclusive promo code right now that lets you take an additional $15 off the price, getting you the Moon Pod for $284 with free shipping. Use promo code GAMESPOT15 at checkout for the discount.

　　

Moon Pod

$284 with promo code GAMESPOT15

　　The Moon Pod is available in five different colors: Moon Indigo, Cosmic Ash, Space Gray, Neptune Blue, and Rose Quartz.

　　See more at Moon Pod

　　

So is Moon Pod worth the money?

That depends on how well the Moon Pod holds up over time, which remains to be seen; I haven't had enough time with the beanbag myself to know. Rick Broida, a senior commerce editor at our sister site CNET, reported a negative experience with the Moon Pod longterm, saying that it started to get compressed and no longer hold its shape within six months. Moon Pod claims its products will last for "years" and suggests washing the outer cover if you start to feel the Moon Pod sagging.

　　Of course, the weight of the user may also make a difference in how well your Moon Pod holds up over time. According to Moon Pod, the beanbag can support up to 300 pounds and is comfortable for those up to 6'8" tall.

　　I plan to continue using the Moon Pod over the next six months or so and will update this story once I get a sense for myself how well this thing will hold up. At this point, what I know for sure is the Moon Pod has already worked wonders for my back and will make the rest of this pandemic lockdown a little easier to bear. If you've also been aching for a more ergonomic gaming and work setup, Moon Pod might just be the solution you've been looking for--if you're willing to shell out some serious cash.

　　If you're not looking to spend that much money to get your ergonomic fix, you could also consider getting a gaming chair, which tends to offer more support than a standard office chair due to its built-in lumbar support and more. We recently rounded up the best budget gaming chairs under $200, and the list includes a few options that work well for console gaming, including the X Rocker Drift floor chair and the Homall gaming recliner.

　　Disclaimer: Moon Pod provided free samples of the Moon Pod beanbag and Crescent backrest for the purposes of this review.